Document Type : .
Authors
1 none
2 Shahid Beheshti University
Abstract
Extended abstract
Introduction
Efforts to industrialize Iran before the era of Pahlavi II (Mohammad Reza Shah) were conducted outside of any coherent, structured plan and often executed in a directive manner. However, during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, with the formulation of long-term developmental plans and the parallel establishment of a planning institution known as the Plan Organization, industrialization for the first time embarked on a pre-designed path. Despite this, the examination of industrial development throughout this period reveals numerous managerial challenges in the process of industrialization. In the early years of Mohammad Reza Shah’s rule, although the government assumed economic and industrial responsibilities in accordance with the constitutional law, officials and politicians lacked deep familiarity with industrial management practices and the evolving nature of industrial management in the West. Consequently, despite the formulation of a comprehensive development plan, placing industrial programs under its umbrella, and creating a planning institution, the absence of a scientifically structured mechanism for industrial management and the undefined scope of responsibilities of those in charge became a point of contention. This contention persisted into later decades as the power of the state diminished and Shah’s involvement in governance increased, leading to significant challenges in managing the country’s industrialization. These challenges sometimes manifested as tensions between the government and technocrats outside the state apparatus, at other times as overt and covert conflicts between members of the government and state agencies, and occasionally as direct confrontations between Shah and the government itself, ultimately hindering the achievement of long-term industrial goals.
The present research is aimed at examining these challenges across five distinct periods from 1941 to 1979 and answering the question: what were the managerial challenges during various phases of this era? Studying the trajectory of industrial management between 1941 and 1979, and observing recurring issues and challenges, led to the assertion that industrialization management during this period was never considered independent from political management. Throughout this entire era, industrial development suffered from the absence of an independent and scientific managerial mechanism.
The existing body of research on industrial development in Iran can be categorized into three main groups. The first group focuses on the historical timeline of industrial transformations in Iran. Papers such as “A Century of Industrial Change in Iran” and “Examining the Developments of Industry and Industrial Development in Iran” review the historical trajectory of industrial growth in the country (Rahnama 2020: 2-38 and Sharifzadegan 2015: 41-66). The second group examines industrial transformations through the lens of urban and industrial planning. Papers like “Structuring Development in Pahlavi Era Iran”, “Reasons for the Failure of the Development Planning System in Pahlavi II Era”, and the dissertation “The Formation of the Plan and Budget Organization and Its Impact on the Political and Economic Developments of the Pahlavi II Era” analyze industrial transformations within the context of long-term development plans (Kasraei 2023: 218-238, Taleb 2006: 181-204, and Shahvand 2019). The third group investigates the industrial sector as a component of the economic system. Papers like “The Economic Strategy of Pahlavi II” and “Economic Policies of the Pahlavi II Regime Regarding Industry, with an Emphasis on Iran-Germany Relations, 1961-1978” address the challenges facing the industrial sector as intertwined with the broader economic policies of the regime (Nasr 2003: 31-39 and Torabi 2017: 66-78).
The distinctive feature of the present study compared to previous works is its focus on analyzing industrialization during the Pahlavi II era from a managerial perspective.
Methodology
The research method employed in this study is descriptive-analytical. The researcher refers to less-utilized library sources, examines existing documents, and extracts historical data. Initially, the process of drafting plans and implementing industrialization programs during the Pahlavi II era by the relevant authorities is described. Subsequently, based on the gathered information, the performance, outcomes, and impacts of their actions are analyzed and evaluated.
Discussion and Conclusion
The examination of industrial management challenges across five periods during the Pahlavi II reign reveals that despite structural and institutional changes and the formulation of long-term plans, the management of industrialization continued to follow traditional management mechanisms in Iran. This mechanism was heavily dependent on the interests of the ruling power, and the behavior and motivations of individual politicians and state managers, as well as the political and economic stances of foreign actors. This management system struggled with issues such as individual and unplanned decision-making, overlapping responsibilities among stakeholders, shifting authority, neglect of specialized expertise, preference for short-term gains, and foreign interventions, etc. In such a system, there was significant resistance to delegating managerial authority to experts and non-political figures. Even when such authority was granted, it was temporary and superficial, driven by non-scientific motivations. As these motivations altered, there was a regression to conservative practices, resulting in the withdrawal of responsibilities from experts. Consequently, the formation of an academic and scientific framework for industrial management based on expert thinking was obstructed, hindering progress toward achieving long-term industrial goals.
Keywords
Bibliography
- Adamiyat, Fereydoun (1983), Amir Kabir and Iran, Tehran: Kharazmi.{in persian}
- Adamiyat, Fereydoun (1977), The Thought of Progress and the Rule of Law: The Age of the Sepahsalar, Tehran: Kharazmi. {in persian}
- Aramesh, Ahmad (1990), Political Memoirs of Ahmad Aramesh, edited by Gholamhossein Mirza Saleh, Isfahan: Jey. {in persian}
- Amouzgar, Jahangir (1997), The Rise and Fall of the Pahlavi Dynasty, translated by Ardeshir Lotfalian, Tehran: The Center for Book Translation and Publications. {in persian}
- Ibtihaj, Abolhasan (1992), Memoirs of Abolhasan Ibtihaj, vols. 1 and 2, Tehran: Elmi. {in persian}
- Alamuti, Mustafa (1995), Political Actors from the Constitutional Era to 1978, Vol. 2, London: Bina. {in persian}
- Barrière, J. (1984), Iranian Economy 1900-1950, Tehran: National Industrial Audit Institute and Program Organization. {in persian}
- Bazargan, Mehdi (1996), Bazargan's Memoirs: Sixty Years of Service and Resistance, Conversation with Gholamreza Nejati, Vol. 1, Tehran: Rasa. {in persian}
- Baldwin, George B. (2017), Planning and Development in Iran, translated by Mikael Azimi, Tehran: Elm.{in persian}
- Bailey, Jacques (1988), Technocrats, translated by Sirous Saeedi, Tehran: Islamic Revolution Education.{in persian}
- Pahlavi, Mohammad Reza (1993), Response to History, translated by Hossein Abu Torabian, Tehran: Motarjem.{in persian}
- Torabi Farasani, Soheila (2014), “The Emergence of Modern Iranian Capitalism: Case Study: Eslamiyeh Company”, Quarterly Journal of Islamic and Iranian History, Volume 24, No. 20. {in persian}
- Khajeh Nouri, Ebrahim (1978), Actors of the Golden Age, Vol. 1, Tehran: Javidan. {in persian}
- Khamei, Anvar (1990), Economy without Oil, Tehran: Sherkat-e Sahami-ye Enteshar.{in persian}
- Zahedi, Ali (1963), The Necessity of an Industrial Program, Tehran, Bina.{in persian}
- Zarrin Kalak, Behnaz (2003), Documents from Iran-England Relations 1941-1946, Tehran: National Documents Organization. {in persian}
- Zirakzadeh, Ahmad (1997), Unanswered Questions in Exceptional Years, edited by Abolhassan Zia-Zarifi and Khosrow Saeedi, Tehran: Niloufar. {in persian}
- Niazmand, Reza (2015), Technocracy and Economic Policymaking in Iran as Narrated by Reza Nemanjad, with the assistance of Ali Asghar Saeedi, Tehran: Lohe Fekr. {in persian}
- Soudagar, Mohammad Reza (1999), The Growth of Capitalist Relations in Iran (1963-1978), Tehran: Farzin. {in persian}
- Shahedi, Mozaffar (2008), Three Parties, Tehran: Institute of Political Studies and Research. {in persian}
- Sharif Emami, Jafar (2001), Memoirs of Jafar Sharif Emami, edited by Habib Lajvardi, Tehran: Sokhan. {in persian}
- Sadeghi, Zahra (2009), Industrial Policies during the Reza Shah Era, Tehran: Khojaste. {in persian}
- Alikhani, Alinaghi (2014), Economy and Security; A collection of oral and visual history of contemporary Iran, edited by Hossein Dehbashi, Tehran: National Archives and Library Organization. {in persian}
- Alikhani, Alinaghi (2005), Politics and Economic Policymaking in Iran (1961-1971), Tehran: Abi. {in persian}
- Alikhani, Alinaghi (2011), Introduction to: Science Notes, Vol. 1, Tehran: Kebatsara. {in persian}
- Hassan Ali Mansour's Cabinet According to SAVAK Documents (2005), Vol. 1, Tehran: The center of historical documents survey. {in persian}
- Kennedy, John F. (1963), Peace Strategy, translated by Abdullah Gale Dari, Tehran: Sahami Ketabhaye Jibi. {in persian}
- Goodarzi, Manouchehr, Khodadad Farmanfarmaian and Abdolmajid Majidi, (2002), Development in Iran 1978-1988, Tehran: Gaame No. {in persian}
- Arthur Chester Millspaugh (1991), Americans in Iran, translated by Abdolreza Houshang Mahdavi, Tehran: Alborz. {in persian}
- Momeni, Farshad and Naghshe Tabrizi, Bahram (2015), Iranian Economy during the National Government Era, Tehran: Institutionalist. {in persian}
- Veblen, Thorstein, (1921) The engineers and price system, Canada: Batoche books.
- Burnham, James, (1941) The Managerial Revolution, New York, John Day co.
Documents
- Document Center of IRAN Parliament, “Morrison Knudsen Company Report on Iran’s Construction and Development Program,” Document ID: 16379.
- "Law on the Abolition of the Feudalism, Sharing Workers in the Profits of Factories, Selling Shares in State-Owned Factories, etc., 25 - 2 - 1963 ", Document ID: A-175551.
- Debates of the National Council of Iran, reports of parliamentarians on famine, food shortages, and the state of factories, periods 13 and 14, (1942-1946).
- Approvals of the National Council of Iran, "Law on the Appointment of Arthur Millspaugh as the Director General of the Treasury of Iran," Volume 13, 13 - 11 - 1943.
- Law on the Abolition of the Economic Powers of Dr. Millspaugh, Director General of Finance”, Volume 14, 4 (18)- 1 - 1945.
- "Law on Authorizing the Implementation of the 7-Year Plan", Volume 15, 15 - 2 - 1949.
- Law on the delegation of powers of the CEO of the Program Organization to the President of the Government”, Volume 19, 15 - 2 - 1959.
- Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (rc.majlis.ir): "Law on the Permission to Exchange the Treaty of Alliance between the Imperial Government of Iran and the Soviet and British Governments, 26 - 1 - 1942"
- "National Plan and Budget Law, 1 - 3 - 1973"
- "Fifth Development Plan (Revised), 15 - 3 - 1975"
- Harvard University Oral History Project {in persain}: Habib Lajevardi's interview with Alinaghi Alikhani (October 1984), tape 1.
- & Abdul Majid Majidi (October 1985), tapes 5 and 7.
- & Mehdi Motmani (April 1986), tape 1.
- Zia Sedqi's interview with Mohammad Yeganeh (April 1985), tapes 2 and 3.
- & Bahman Abadian (July 1985), tape 1.
- With Abolqasem Kheradjoo (January 1985), tapes 2 and 3.
Press
- Official Gazette of the Imperial State of Iran, (2 - 1 - 1953), “Approval of the Bill Establishing the Industrial Supervisory Board.”
- Ete'lat Newspaper, (19 - 1 - 1951), "Report of the Supervisory Board on the Program Organization", No. 1428, p. 5.
- Weekly Report Magazine of the Program Organization, (3 - 10 - 1957), "If we don't have experts, even if they give us all the money in the world, it won't be useful," No. 37, pp. 1 and 7.
- Chamber of Commerce Magazine (September 1959), "Approval of the Council of Ministers", No. 84, p. 23.
- Journal of the National Bank of Iran (June and July 1948), "Statements of the Chairman of the National Bank Commission in the First Program Commission", No. 94, p. 138.
- (February and March 1948), "Statutes of the Supreme Economic Council approved on August 13, 1944", No. 98 (Appendix), pp. 8-11.
- San'at magazine, (May 1943), "The Doors of the Engineers' Association Were Closed", ISSN: 2, p. 1.
- (April 1944), "Statutes of the Iranian Engineers Association", Vol. 3, p. 70.
- (July 1952), "Letter from the President of the Iranian Engineers Association to the Prime Minister", No. 10, pp. 37-38.
- (February 1959), "Lack of Industrial Growth in Iran," No. 18, pp. 13-15.
- (March 1955), "Iranian Engineers and Foreign Consultants", pp. 1-2.
', './data/sehs/coversheet/cover_en.jpg'))